No. 16 Penn State field hockey (4-2, 0-1 Big Ten) was beaten by No. 10 Maryland (5-2, 1-0 Big Ten) on the road Friday, 3-1.

The Nittany Lions managed just three shot attempts (two on-goal) across four quarters, while the Terrapins controlled possession and piled up corners. Both Josie and Jordyn Hollamon scored for Maryland, accounting for a majority of the team’s offense.

How It Happened

Penn State found itself with the game’s first chance with three minutes left in the opening frame, but came up empty on the penalty corner. Maryland quickly countered with a shot of its own, but goalie Aby Deverka came up with the stop.

The Terrapins threatened again off a penalty corner, but Penn State’s Cooper Cutchins stepped in front to block the attempt.

Maryland broke through for the game’s first score, as Jose Hollamon buried a shot past Deverka with just eight seconds left in the first quarter.

Maryland carried its momentum into the second quarter, dominating possession and earning a corner less than two minutes in, but the shot sailed wide. A few minutes later, another penalty corner was swarmed by the Nittany Lion defense, allowing Penn State to push back the other way.

The Terrapins nearly double their lead midway through the frame, but Deverka’s pads stopped a rolling shot that trickled close to the goal line.

Maryland continued to put the pressure on late in the half, drawing a penalty corner with 2:40 left. The Nittany Lions’ defense stopped the first chance, and a scramble in front of the net ended with Djuana Eikelboom getting robbed by Deverka at point-blank range.

At halftime, Maryland held a 10-1 advantage in shots and a 6-1 lead in corners, while Deverka’s three saves kept Penn State within reach.

Penn State opened the second half with its first real look since the opening frame, as Semler fired a shot on net, but Maryland keeper Alyssa Klebesko made the save.

Just past the five-minute mark, Maryland earned another penalty corner. The shot was blocked, but left Cutchins shaken up. After a short review, Penn State was awarded possession.

Under nine minutes to play in the third, the Terrapins’ first attempt was stopped by Deverka before firing another one that was stopped by the Penn State traffic. The sequence ended in yet another penalty corner.

They finally capitalized on the penalty corner, with Jordyn Hollamon, the younger sister of first-half scorer Josie, putting home a goal to double the Terrapins’ lead to 2-0.

Just over a minute into the final quarter, Maryland earned another penalty corner. Jordyn Hollamon fired a shot wide of the net, keeping the score 2-0.

With 9:07 left, Feliz Kuhne played out to finish off a give-and-go play in front of the cage to push the Terrapins ahead 3-0.

Penn State finally broke through late, Sophia Mannino slipped a shot past the Maryland keeper with 2:13 remaining to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Takeaway’s

• The Terrapins controlled possession from start to finish, racking up a huge advantage in both shots and penalty corners.
• Penn State only put together two shots on goal, coming from Semler and Mannino in the second half. Maryland’s defense shut down any momentum Penn State tried to build.
• Despite the score, Deverka gave Penn State a legitimate chance to win the game. She turned away several corners and saves that made their way towards the net, keeping the Nittany Lions within reach.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will head to Lafayette for a non-conference game at 12 p.m. on Sunday, September 21, at Rappolt Field at the Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex. The game will not be streamed.